'Necks fall by one at championship
Issue date: 4/27/09 Section: Sports
The Western Illinois men's tennis team picked up three wins in singles play but fell one win shy in its upset bid of UMKC, dropping a 4-3 match in The Summit League championship semifinal match at the Dr. Rudy and Rhonda Kachmann Tennis Center.
"This loss was a tough one," said Western Illinois head coach Michael Hunt. "We came out a little flat in doubles and it cost us. Our singles effort was overwhelming. I'm so proud of our guys for fighting back and taking this match the distance. We won first sets in four of the matches and gave ourselves a chance to win. We just didn't quite finish it and credit UMKC for winning the match. We didn't lose it, and we didn't give it to them. They had to win it."
Looking to avenge a 4-0 loss during regular-season play, the Leathernecks (10-16) would fall just short of taking the quick 1-0 advantage by winning the doubles point after dropping two out of the three doubles matches.
Senior Zach Frisch teamed with junior James McGuire to pick up the lone doubles win at the No. 2 doubles position, defeating the Kangaroos' No. 2 team of Erwin Quintanilla and Dennis Schwarz, 8-4.
Senior Sean Ragee-Nelson put Western on the board with a win at the No. 4 spot. The all-Summit League second team selection defeated Gustavio Guerin in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3.
Making his Summit League championship debut, freshman Mandela Shepard gave the Leathernecks a second point by picking up a win at the No. 5 singles position over Schwarz, 6-4, 6-3. Frisch continued his strong day and leveled the match after beating fellow all-Summit League first-teamer Bret Berryman at the top singles spot, 6-3, 7-6 (1).
With the match tied at 3-3, the match came down to the No. 2 singles match. Sophomore Francisco Ortiz edged out the first set against Pat Smith, taking the opening set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (5). However, Smith would rebound, taking the final two sets and the match, 6-4, 6-2.
"I am so proud of our efforts this season," Hunt stated. "We weren't quite as strong without Martin this year, but our guys didn't use that as a crutch and battled their tails off all season long. We overscheduled a little bit, but they never complained. They just went out and did their jobs, and I'll always remember this team because of that."
"This loss was a tough one," said Western Illinois head coach Michael Hunt. "We came out a little flat in doubles and it cost us. Our singles effort was overwhelming. I'm so proud of our guys for fighting back and taking this match the distance. We won first sets in four of the matches and gave ourselves a chance to win. We just didn't quite finish it and credit UMKC for winning the match. We didn't lose it, and we didn't give it to them. They had to win it."
Looking to avenge a 4-0 loss during regular-season play, the Leathernecks (10-16) would fall just short of taking the quick 1-0 advantage by winning the doubles point after dropping two out of the three doubles matches.
Senior Zach Frisch teamed with junior James McGuire to pick up the lone doubles win at the No. 2 doubles position, defeating the Kangaroos' No. 2 team of Erwin Quintanilla and Dennis Schwarz, 8-4.
Senior Sean Ragee-Nelson put Western on the board with a win at the No. 4 spot. The all-Summit League second team selection defeated Gustavio Guerin in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3.
Making his Summit League championship debut, freshman Mandela Shepard gave the Leathernecks a second point by picking up a win at the No. 5 singles position over Schwarz, 6-4, 6-3. Frisch continued his strong day and leveled the match after beating fellow all-Summit League first-teamer Bret Berryman at the top singles spot, 6-3, 7-6 (1).
With the match tied at 3-3, the match came down to the No. 2 singles match. Sophomore Francisco Ortiz edged out the first set against Pat Smith, taking the opening set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (5). However, Smith would rebound, taking the final two sets and the match, 6-4, 6-2.
"I am so proud of our efforts this season," Hunt stated. "We weren't quite as strong without Martin this year, but our guys didn't use that as a crutch and battled their tails off all season long. We overscheduled a little bit, but they never complained. They just went out and did their jobs, and I'll always remember this team because of that."
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